The Second International Summer School on Sustainable Energetics for Africa
72 participants from 26 countries attended the Second International Summer School to build capacity in Renewable Energy. The event was organized by the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and the African Network for Solar Energy (ANSOLE).
For two days, participants at this summer school were given advance knowledge in this strategic domain of renewable energy so that they can be able to help Africa to advance its Renewable Energy Agenda and make energy available and accessible to all citizens of Africa.
The Summer School was opened by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ngomo Horace Manga, who lauded the initiative of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and thanked ANSOLE for choosing the University of Buea to host the event this year. While emphasizing the importance of energy at the centre of the sustainable development goals, Professor Manga told the participants and professors that “Africa has a great need to fast-track Renewable Energy Technology for its development”. He assured them that the Renewable Energy Laboratory of the Faculty of Engineering and Technolgy is well equipped, and can be used by students and researchers to explore various aspects of Renewable Energy Technology, such as Solar, Wind, Hydro and Biomass.
At the end of the summer school, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the University of Buea and the African Network for Solar Energy (ANSOLE).
It should be noted that the Faculty of Engineering and Technology has made Renewable Energy its flagship technology. Its outreach activities could be felt in the communities. It has an on-going partnership with the 31 Mayors of the South West Region of Cameroon, to help them develop Renewable Energy systems for rural electrification of villages. The Faculty has also initiated “Solar Campus Project” for the installation of Solar Energy on the University campus. By this project, solar street lights have been installed on a stretch of the University of Buea campus and the project is currently being extended to other parts of the campus.
The event was also attended by authorities of the Ministry of Water and Energy and the Buea Council.
